Abstract:
Background. The study is a part of the project Pregnancy Outcome (Teplice Program) examining effects of
polluted environment on the quality of reproduction in Teplice (high polluted) and Prachatice (control) districts.
Selected parameters of cell mediated and humoral immunity in maternal and umbilical samples after delivery were
assayed.
Methods and Results. Lymphocytes in 768 samples of maternal venous blood and 739 samples of umbilical blood
collected in May 1994 - October 1997 were phenotyped using flow cytometry. Medical and personal questionnaires
were used to obtain data on clinical risk factors during pregnancy, health and life style of mothers, the course and
prolongation of labour and newborn’s status. The percentages of T and NK lymphocytes in both umbilical and
maternal blood were associated with a number of variables, including the course of labour. After adjustment for the
other predictors, the percentage of NK lymphocytes was found significantly higher in Teplice than in Prachatice
samples - in both maternal and umbilical blood.
Conclusions. A part of the observed difference between distribution of NK and T lymphocytes can be attributed
to living in the polluted district. To see effects of polluted environment, the association of seasonal difference in
levels of major pollutants with seasonal changes in lymphocyte phenotype will be analyzed.
Key words:
environment, pregnancy, flow cytometry, NK lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, umbilical cord blood.
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